Great news for fans of classic first-person shooters: Unreal and its multiplayer sequel Unreal Tournament are now freely available on the Internet Archive, thanks to the approval of their original developer, Epic Games. This move not only preserves these pioneering games but also introduces them to a new generation of players.

Originally released in 1998, Unreal was crafted by Cliff Bleszinski—later famed for his work on Gears of War and LawBreakers—and programmed by Tim Sweeney, the billionaire CEO of Epic Games. The game was celebrated for its cutting-edge graphics and fast-paced gameplay, quickly becoming a hit among gamers. Its successor, Unreal Tournament, launched in 1999 with a focus on multiplayer arenas, leading to multiple sequels and cementing its place in gaming history.

The dedicated community group Old Unreal first shared the news on October 29, announcing that both games had been archived and made accessible. They also released special installers to help players run these classics on modern Windows systems. Although Epic Games shut down official server support on January 24, 2023, the community has kept multiplayer action alive through numerous independently run servers.

An Epic Games spokesperson confirmed to gaming outlet Polygon that both Unreal and Unreal Tournament are officially hosted on Archive.org. This allows anyone interested to download and enjoy these games without any restrictions. This confirmation is significant, especially since Epic had previously delisted the games from digital storefronts following the server shutdowns.

While the Unreal series may have slipped from the mainstream spotlight—partly due to Epic shifting focus to Fortnite—it remains a cornerstone in the evolution of video games. Preserving these titles is crucial for appreciating the technological and cultural advancements in gaming history. Epic Games’ decision to support—or at least not hinder—the archival of these games is a commendable step toward maintaining important digital artifacts for future generations.